The War: Static of Distress

Wherever they looked last week, the leaders
of North Viet Nam saw trouble.
To the north, Red China was convulsed by violence. Below the 17th
parallel, the U.S. and its allies were preparing a knockout blow
against the Communist "main force" units, which were already reeling
from 1966 losses of 50,000 men in combat and 20,000 defectors.

To make the view from Hanoi even bleaker, U.S. Marines began their
long-anticipated offensive against the Mekong Delta, the Reds' last
safe haven in South Viet Nam. Perhaps most disturbing of all to the
enemy was the U.S. air war. During the week,...